[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 127 (Tuesday, July 20, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H3688-H3689]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
DHS BLUE CAMPAIGN ENHANCEMENT ACT
Ms. BARRAGAN. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 2795) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to enhance
the Blue Campaign of the Department of Homeland Security, and for other
purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 2795
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``DHS Blue Campaign
Enhancement Act''.
SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY BLUE CAMPAIGN
ENHANCEMENT.
Section 434 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C.
242) is amended--
(1) in subsection (e)(6), by striking ``utilizing
resources,'' and inserting ``developing and utilizing, in
consultation with the Advisory Board established pursuant to
subsection (g), resources''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new subsections:
``(f)Web-Based Training Programs.--To enhance training
opportunities, the Director of the Blue Campaign shall
develop web-based interactive training videos that utilize a
learning management system to provide online training
opportunities that shall be made available to the following
individuals:
``(1) Federal, State, local, Tribal, and territorial law
enforcement officers.
``(2) Non-Federal correction system personnel.
``(3) Such other individuals as the Director determines
appropriate.
``(g)Blue Campaign Advisory Board.--
``(1)In general.--The Secretary shall establish within the
Department a Blue Campaign Advisory Board and shall assign to
such Board a representative from each of the following
components:
``(A) The Transportation Security Administration.
``(B) U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
``(C) U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
``(D) The Federal Law Enforcement Training Center.
``(E) The United States Secret Service.
``(F) The Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties.
``(G) The Privacy Office.
``(H) Any other components or offices the Secretary
determines appropriate.
``(2)Charter.--The Secretary is authorized to issue a
charter for the Board, and such charter shall specify the
following:
``(A) The Board's mission, goals, and scope of its
activities.
``(B) The duties of the Board's representatives.
``(C) The frequency of the Board's meetings.
``(3)Consultation.--The Director shall consult the Board
established pursuant to paragraph (1) regarding the
following:
``(A) Recruitment tactics used by human traffickers to
inform the development of training and materials by the Blue
Campaign.
``(B) The development of effective awareness tools for
distribution to Federal and non-Federal officials to identify
and prevent instances of human trafficking.
``(C) Identification of additional persons or entities that
may be uniquely positioned to recognize signs of human
trafficking and the development of materials for such
persons.
``(4)Applicability.--The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5
U.S.C. App.) does not apply to--
``(A) the Board; or
``(B) consultations under paragraph (2).
``(h)Consultation.--With regard to the development of
programs under the Blue Campaign and the implementation of
such programs, the Director is authorized to consult with
State, local, Tribal, and territorial agencies, non-
governmental organizations, private sector organizations, and
experts. Such consultation shall be exempt from the Federal
Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
California (Ms. Barragan) and the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr.
Guest) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.
General Leave
Ms. BARRAGAN. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to
include extraneous material on this measure.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from California?
There was no objection.
Ms. BARRAGAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, the Department of Homeland Security's Blue Campaign is
dedicated to raising awareness about the often-concealed crime of human
trafficking. Each year, there are thousands of victims of human
trafficking in the U.S. with numbers steadily increasing over the last
20 years. Traffickers subject their victims to forced labor, debt
bondage, or sexual exploitation by using violence, manipulation, or
false promises.
The DHS Blue Campaign works to combat this crime by educating law
enforcement and the public on how to recognize the signs of human
trafficking. Through outreach to local communities, industry partners,
and law enforcement authorities, the Blue Campaign seeks to build on a
foundation of human trafficking prevention and protection.
The tactics and techniques that human traffickers use are evolving.
It is crucial for the Federal Government to foster awareness in a
sustained way and educate Americans on the indicators of human
trafficking to identify victims.
H.R. 2795, the DHS Blue Campaign Enhancement Act, would build upon
the existing Blue Campaign by focusing on enhancing human trafficking
prevention training opportunities and improving the development of such
trainings and material. Specifically, H.R. 2795 would create an
advisory board which brings together representatives throughout DHS to
provide guidance on recruitment tactics used by human traffickers and
inform the development of awareness tools.
It would also require the Blue Campaign to create web-based training
videos to reach the widest possible audience of law enforcement
officers and correction system personnel, among others. H.R. 2795 has
bipartisan support and was reported out of committee by unanimous
consent.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and
I reserve the balance of my time.
House of Representatives,
Committee on the Judiciary,
Washington, DC, May 18, 2021.
Hon. Bennie G. Thompson,
Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Thompson: This letter is to advise you that
the Committee on the Judiciary has now had an opportunity to
review the provisions in H.R. 2795, the ``DHS Blue Campaign
Enhancement Act,'' that fall within our Rule X jurisdiction.
I appreciate your consulting with us on those provisions. The
Judiciary Committee has no objection to your including them
in the bill for consideration on the House floor, and to
expedite that consideration is willing to forgo action on
H.R. 2795, with the understanding that we do not thereby
waive any future jurisdictional claim over those provisions
or their subject matters.
In the event a House-Senate conference on this or similar
legislation is convened, the Judiciary Committee reserves the
right to request an appropriate number of conferees to
address any concerns with these or similar provisions that
may arise in conference.
Please place this letter into the Congressional Record
during consideration of the measure on the House floor. Thank
you for the cooperative spirit in which you have worked
regarding this matter and others between our committees.
Sincerely,
Jerrold Nadler,
Chairman.
____
House of Representatives,
Committee on Homeland Security,
Washington, DC, May 26, 2021.
Hon. Jerrold Nadler,
Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Nadler: Thank you for your letter regarding
H.R. 2795, the ``DHS Blue Campaign Enhancement Act.'' I
recognize that the Committee on the Judiciary has a
jurisdictional interest in H.R. 2795, and I appreciate your
effort to allow this bill to be considered on the House
floor.
I concur with you that forgoing action on the bill does not
in any way prejudice the Committee on the Judiciary with
respect to its jurisdictional prerogatives on this bill or
similar legislation in the future, and I would support your
effort to seek appointment of an appropriate number of
conferees to any House-Senate conference involving this
legislation.
I will include our letters on H.R. 2795 in the
Congressional Record during floor consideration of this bill.
I look forward to working
[[Page H3689]]
with you on this legislation and other matters of great
importance to this Nation.
Sincerely,
Bennie G. Thompson,
Chairman,
Committee on Homeland Security.
Mr. GUEST. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2795, the DHS Blue
Campaign Enhancement Act. As vice-ranking member of the Homeland
Security Committee, I know how important it is for us to approach
protecting this great Nation in a comprehensive manner by tackling all
types of threats, including: hackers, terrorists, violent criminals,
and human traffickers.
Criminal organizations use human trafficking to fund their operations
by defrauding, coercing, and exploiting both adults and children,
forcing them into labor and commercial sex acts. The DHS Blue Campaign
enables and empowers the DHS workforce and customer-facing industries
they work with--industries such as airlines--to recognize the
indicators of human trafficking and take the proper steps to alert
authorities.
H.R. 2795 enhances the Department's existing training opportunities
by developing internet-based training programs to train Federal, State,
local, Tribal law enforcement officers, and others as part of the
Department's Blue Campaign. This important piece of legislation also
established the Blue Campaign Advisory Board within the Department to
coordinate Blue Campaign efforts and work cohesively to combat human
trafficking.
Empowering State and local law enforcement to recognize potential
human trafficking is the first step in helping them assist these
victims, many of whom have been told that they have broken the law and
can't seek police assistance by their traffickers. H.R. 2795 does this
and helps disrupt these criminal networks, which is an important
component in dismantling criminals and the terrorists financing their
acts around the world.
I want to thank Representative Meijer for his leadership, and
Chairman Thompson for moving this legislation out of committee, and I
urge my colleagues to support this important bill to further secure the
homeland.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. BARRAGAN. Madam Speaker, I have no more speakers, and I am
prepared to close after the gentleman from Mississippi closes. I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GUEST. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Michigan (Mr. Meijer).
Mr. MEIJER. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2795, the DHS
Blue Campaign Enhancement Act. This bill, which I am proud to have
introduced with my colleague, the chairman of the Homeland Security
Subcommittee on Oversight, Management, and Accountability,
Representative Correa, has one very specific goal, to combat human
trafficking.
According to the Department of State's Trafficking in Persons Report,
every year, around the world tens of thousands of men, women, and
children are trafficked, including far too many right here in the
United States. Human traffickers use fraud and coercion to compel
people into situations of forced labor or sexual exploitation. False
promises of well-paying jobs, romantic relationships, and violence are
all methods used by human traffickers. Victims can be any age, race,
gender, or nationality and from any socioeconomic background.
To curb this horrific practice, we must use a multipronged approach,
and a critical component to this strategy is ensuring that law
enforcement personnel and employees in customer-facing industries are
trained to identify a potential victim of human trafficking by
recognizing key indicators and taking appropriate action.
DHS started the Blue Campaign in 2010 to do just that; to unify and
coordinate Department efforts to address human trafficking. The Blue
Campaign enables and empowers the DHS workforce and the industries they
work with--including airlines and the public--to recognize the
indicators of human trafficking and take steps to alert the appropriate
authorities.
My bill, the DHS Blue Campaign Enhancement Act, bolsters these
efforts by creating an advisory board to inform and coordinate training
among the DHS components to increase the efficiency and effectiveness
of the training that DHS provides for its personnel, its industries,
and State and local law enforcement partners.
This legislation also increases the online trainings that DHS will
provide, enabling the Department to reach a broader audience more
quickly.
I would like to thank my good friend from California (Mr. Correa) for
joining me in this effort and supporting this important piece of
legislation.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to approve this bill and help DHS
do its part to combat human trafficking.
Mr. GUEST. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I urge
Members to support this bill.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. BARRAGAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Madam Speaker, DHS is uniquely positioned to address human
trafficking through the Blue Campaign. H.R. 2795 seeks to build upon
the success of the Blue Campaign, which was first established in August
2010, and to bolster human trafficking awareness by ensuring that
public-facing materials remain as current and accessible as possible.
This is a worthwhile endeavor.
Madam Speaker, I urge passage of the bill, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Barragan) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2795, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. MOORE of Alabama. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and
nays.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion
are postponed.
____________________